12/11/2011 Election observation
Strasbourg, 11.11.2011 – A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) undertook a pre-election visit to Morocco to assess the campaign for the parliamentary elections due to take place on 25 November 2011.
The delegation met Abdelwahed Radi, President of the Chamber of Representatives; Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah, President of the Chamber of Councillors; the chairs and representatives of the political groups represented in Parliament; Nour-Eddine Boutayeb, Secretary General at the Ministry of the Interior; Ahmed Ghazali, President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication; Driss El Yazami, President of the Moroccan National Human Rights Council; Nabil Adghoghi, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation; Mr Landaburu, Head of the European Union delegation in Morocco, and representatives of the media.
The delegation noted that the election campaign, which begins officially on 12 November, did not yet seem to have aroused much enthusiasm among the electorate, some two weeks before polling day. Some persons met by the delegation were concerned about the possibility of a low turn-out in the elections, as in 2007.
The pre-election delegation believes that active participation by Moroccan citizens in the parliamentary elections of 25 November 2011, despite their fear of certain undemocratic practices in the past, might help to bolster public confidence in the democratic process and enhance the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament.
Despite the legitimate questions which arose after the Moroccan Parliament’s adoption of the law on conditions and procedures for neutral and independent election observation, national and international bodies have been invited to observe the parliamentary elections on 25 November. The pre-election delegation considers that this approach answers the call made by the Parliamentary Assembly in its Resolution 1818 on “Partner for Democracy” status for “strengthening [of] public monitoring of elections by independent observers, including strengthening [of] the capacities of domestic observer networks”.
In this connection, the delegation considers that the role of international observers is to give Moroccan society the benefit of the international community’s experience in this field and to observe the proper conduct of the elections, but under no circumstances to interfere in the electoral process or give lessons on how elections should be organised.
The pre-election delegation noted with satisfaction that electoral legislation has been improved, making it possible to organise free and fair elections provided it is implemented in good faith by the main political players. Transparent and neutral electoral administration is a decisive factor in ensuring the democratic nature of the electoral process as a whole and building confidence in the elections among politicians and citizens.
The pre-election delegation welcomes the diversity of the media and hopes that coverage of the election campaign will be balanced, irrespective of political leanings, and that freedom of expression will be fully guaranteed.
The delegation reminded its interlocutors that Resolution 1818 called on Morocco to “[hold] free and fair elections in accordance with relevant international standards”,“[enhance] public interest in, and awareness of, the democratic process” and “[ensure] a higher level of participation in elections”.
The delegation received assurances from the Moroccan authorities that every means will be employed to guarantee the democratic nature of these elections. It thanks them for the excellent organisation of the pre-election visit.
The Parliamentary Assembly will send a 20-member delegation to observe the parliamentary elections on 25 November 2011.
Members of the pre-electoral delegation:
Tomas Jirsa (Czech Republic), Head of delegation
Francine John-Calame (Switzerland), member
Margus Hanson, (Estonia), member